Paco Boy Colt Tops Strong Opening Day Of December Foal Sale

Rises Across The Board On Opening Day of Tattersalls December Foal Sale

Lot 485: Paco Boy (IRE) / Tincture (GB)

There were rises across the board on the opening day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a son of PACO BOY topping proceedings at 52,000 guineas. A total of 221 lots were sold for 1,754,000 guineas, which was up 23% on the opening session last year whilst the average and median rose 10% and 4% respectively to 10,379 guineas and 6,500 guineas.

A colt from the first crop of PACO BOY stole the headlines on the opening day when selling to Rob Speers for 52,000 guineas. Consigned by Voute Sales, the son of the Listed placed DR FONG mare TINCTURE will be re-offered as a yearling next year.

"He is a nice colt, and I've liked the Paco Boys that I've seen," said Speers, adding: "They have good shape, move well and he seems to be stamping his stock.

"They should be popular as yearlings and I am sure they will only get more expensive as the week goes on."

Cheveley Park Stud’s DUTCH ART has enjoyed a fruitful 2012 with seven individual Group/Listed winners headed by the German 2,000 Guineas winner CASPAR NETSCHER and so it was no surprise to see his progeny in demand. All six of the DUTCH ART foals offered on the opening day were sold at an average of 28,917 guineas with the top price being the colt out of the DIKTAT mare AUTHORITATIVE who was knocked down to Julie Wood for 46,000 guineas.

"I had a Dutch Art colt but unfortunately he couldn't make it to the racecourse and I wanted to replace him," said Wood of the Mill House-offered foal. "The Dutch Arts are popular, and this colt has a bit of scope."

Wood's purchase will go to David Powell’s Catridge Farm before eventually going into training with Richard Hannon.

Breeze Up specialistWillie Browne, buying under the Oaks Farm Stables banner, purchased two foals today, headlined by the 46,000 guineas son of the first season stallion LOPE DE VEGA.

Sold by The Castlebridge Consignment, the colt's dam AWANI is a half-sister to KOOYONGA, the dual champion and four-time Group 1 winner.

LOPE DE VEGA, winner of the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club is a son of SHAMARDAL, and stands at John O’Connor’s Ballylinch Stud.

The highest price for much of the day had been 42,000 guineas for the ROYAL APPLAUSE colt consigned from agent John Troy. Catalogued as lot 452, the son of the Group placed UMNIYA was knocked down to Tally-Ho’s Tony O’Callaghan after he saw off agent Charlie Budgett.

"Royal Applause is a solid sire, who has been good to us this year," said Roger O'Callaghan of Tally-Ho, referring to the yearling colt that sold for €95,000 earlier this Autumn to John Ferguson.

The sale also represented an immediate return for his owners who bought UMNIYA carrying the ROYAL APPLAUSE colt at last year’s December Mare Sale for 24,000 guineas. She is catalogued as lot 2043 in next week’s sale in foal to DICK TURPIN.

The first foal to be offered at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale by the Group 1 Prix Morny winner ARCANO was lot 354, the colt out of SILCA DESTINATION. Consigned by Richard Kent’s Mickley Stud, the grandson of the multiple Group-winning mare GOLDEN SILCA, was knocked down to Peter Doyle for 41,000 guineas after he saw off Littleton Stud’s David Bowe.

"We are delighted with that," said vendor Nicholas Whittle, who sold the bay colt with his father Bill.

"Silca Destination is based with Richard at Mickley and the plan was always to sell as a foal - the family is very active at the moment - Andrew Balding has the two-year-old Lizzie Tudor, a winner of her maiden, while Middleham Park bought her yearling by Captain Gerrard.

"We have had horses with Richard for ten years - it is a very good long-standing relationship!"

Doyle, who purchased the colt on behalf of Jimmy Murphy’s Redpender Stud, commented;

"The Arcano foals seem to be a very consistent, good looking bunch of foals - he might seem cheap by the end of the week."

The Tattersalls December Foal Sale continues on Thursday, November 29 at 10am.